FR2755678A1 - DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for handling products (P) such as fruits, comprising on the one hand a conveyor (10) with two strands (12A, 12B) running substantially parallel to one another and on which rest the products (P) and on the other hand means (22) for ejecting the products (P) arranged along the conveyor (10) on a section (18) for ejecting the products (P). The ejection means (22) are adapted to laterally eject the products (P) from the conveyor (10) by tilting beyond one of the strands (12A) of the conveyor. On said section (18) for ejecting the products (P), the two strands (12A, 12B) of the conveyor (10) are arranged at different levels with respect to the horizontal.

Description

The present invention relates to a product handling device,

  such as fruit, of the type comprising on the one hand a conveyor with two strands circulating substantially parallel to one another and on which the products rest and on the other hand means for ejecting the products arranged along of the conveyor on a product ejection section, which means are adapted to eject the products from the conveyor laterally by tilting beyond one of the strands of the

conveyor.

  This device is intended in particular for the transfer

  of products from one conveyor to another conveyor.

  Such a product handling device is described with reference to FIG. 5 of the patent application

  FR-A-2.612.090 in the name of the Claimant.

  The device described in this document comprises two strands extending parallel to one another in the same horizontal plane. The ejection means comprise a fork arranged transversely to the conveyor and

  movable in rotation between a retracted position above

  below the conveyor and a fruit ejection position in which one of the arms of the fork extends between the two strands of the conveyor and the other arm extends

outside the conveyor.

  Such a device has drawbacks. In

  the means of ejecting the fruit must be

  to overcome the weight of the fruit lying flat on the two parallel strands. In particular, the fruit being

  substantially spherical in shape, the ejection means must

  wind clear it sufficiently from the conveyor strands

  to allow its lateral tilting.

  Also, the force applied by the fork on the fruit for its ejection must be of great intensity. Under these conditions, the products can be damaged by the action of the ejection fork on the fruit. This risk is all the more important as the

  fork acts during the continuous movement of the conveyor.

  The object of the invention is to propose a device for handling products, in particular fruit, which reduces the damage caused to the products during their ejection.

  To this end, the subject of the invention is a device

  tif handling of the aforementioned type, characterized in that, on said product ejection section, the two strands of the conveyor are arranged at different levels

with respect to the horizontal.

  The difference in levels between the two strands of the

  conveyor reduces the ejection force to appli-

  quer the product for its tilting, the strand of the conveyor to be crossed being at a level

  lower than that encountered in known devices.

  According to particular embodiments, the

  handling device according to the invention can comprise

  ter one or more of the following characteristics: - the lowest strand is provided on the side of the lateral discharge of the products; the height of the difference in levels between the two strands is between substantially 0.1 and 1 times the distance separating the two parallel strands measured horizontally; - The height of the level difference between the two strands is between substantially 0.1 and 0.5 times the distance separating the two parallel strands measured horizontally; the ejection means include a member

  actuation requesting the product in a direction

  tion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the two parallel strands in the ejection section; - the solicitation of the products takes place between

  the two strands of the conveyor and the loading direction

  tion of the products defines an angle with the horizontal

  between substantially 40 and 80, in particular sensi-

  wholly equal to 60; - the solicitation of the products is carried out outside the interval delimited by the two strands of the conveyor, and the direction of solicitation of the products defines with the horizontal an angle between substantially 10 and 50, in particular substantially equal to 25 ; - Said fruit actuating member comprises a nozzle for projecting a fluid under pressure onto the product in the direction of stress; - said fluid is air; - the actuator comprises a jack; and

  - The actuator is an electromagnet.

  The invention will be better understood on reading

  the description which follows, given only as

  example and made with reference to the drawings on the-

which:

  - Figure 1 is a partial perspective view

  tive of a handling device according to the invention; and - Figures 2 to 7 are cross-sectional views of the handling device according to three

  different embodiments of the invention.

  The handling device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a conveyor 10 comprising two strands

  flexible 12A, 12B extending substantially parallel.

  Each strand is closed on itself to form a loop guided at its two ends by two wheels

  turning (not shown), one of which is motorized.

  Thus, the two strands 12A, 12B move substantially parallel to each other at the same speed according to the

direction of arrows F (figure 1).

  The two strands 12A, 12B comprise at regular intervals members projecting outwards and

  on which P products are based.

  the longitudinal retention of products P on the conveyor. For reasons of clarity, these bodies have not been represented. These can be of any

  nature, they will not be described in detail here.

  In the current part of the conveyor, designated by the general reference 14, the two strands 12A, 12B extend parallel to each other in a horizontal plane shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the

reference n.

  The conveyor includes a product ejection section, designated by the general reference 18. In this ejection section, the two strands of the conveyor are arranged at different levels relative to the horizontal plane a. In particular, the strand 12B is disposed at a level higher than that of the strand 12A. The two strands 12A and 12B are nevertheless parallel on the section

eject 18.

  The current part of the strand 12B is connected to the part of the strand 12B of the ejection section by a ramp 20

  in which the level of the strand 12B rises gradually-

  is lying. The 12B strand is guided on either side of the

  crawls by wheels not shown.

  In addition, the handling device

  includes ejection means bearing the general reference

  rale 22 generally arranged below the conveyor.

  These ejection means, three different embodiments of which are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, are adapted to urge the product P between the two strands 12A, 12B and push the latter generally upwards so that it tilts laterally beyond the strand 12A of the conveyor. 12A lowest strand for tilting

  is provided on the side of the side discharge of the products.

  According to the invention, and as shown in FIG. 2, the height h of the difference in level between the strands 12A and 12B, is between substantially 0.1 and 1 times the distance d measured along the horizontal and separating the two strands. Advantageously, the h / d ratio is between 0.1 and 0.5, in particular between 0.2 and

  0.3 and is preferably substantially equal to 0.25.

  In particular, in the case where the products P are fruits such as apples having a diameter

  between 7 cm and 9 cm, the distance d is sensitive-

  ment equal to 6 cm and the height h is substantially equal

1.5 cm.

  For each of the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4, the ejection means comprise an actuating member urging the product in a direction denoted X-X in the figures extending in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the two strands

  12A, 12B in the ejection section 18.

  The direction X-X of the stressing of the product defines with the horizontal an angle a of between 40 and 80, advantageously between 30 and 70 and preferably

substantially equal to 60.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the actuating member comprises a nozzle 26 for ejecting a pressurized fluid in the direction X-X of biasing of the product. The nozzle 16 is fixed relative to the conveyor 10. The pressurized fluid is by

  example of air sent under pressure from a compressor

sor 28 via a pipe 30.

  In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 3, the actuator comprises a cylinder 40

  whose rod 42 is movable in the direction X-X.

  The body of the jack 44 is fixed relative to the plane T

  defined by the strands 12A, 12B on the ejection section.

  The free end of the rod 42 is provided with a shock-absorbing pad 48, made of rubber for example, intended to come into contact with the product P.

  The jack 40 is a pneumatic or hydraulic jack

  and is connected to a suitable source of contact fluid

  pressure operation designated by reference 50.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the cylinder of Figure 3 is replaced by an electromagnet 60 whose rod 62 extends in the direction X-X. The coil 64 of the electromagnet is connected to a suitable potential difference source 66. As before, the free end of the rod 62

  is fitted with a shock absorbing pad 68.

  In Figures 5 to 7 are shown values

  laughing at the realization of the arrangements shown on

Figures 2 to 4.

  In these variants, the biasing means of FIGS. 5 to 7 are respectively analogous to those

  of Figures 2 to 4. However, the solicitation of pro-

  duits is no longer carried out between the two strands 12A, 12B but outside the interval delimited by the two strands. In particular, the stress axis extends

  above the strand 12B disposed highest.

  As shown in these figures, the stressing direction, denoted YY, advantageously defines with the horizontal an angle P substantially equal to 25. In practice, the angle P is between substantially 10 and

substantially 50.

  We understand that, with a device according to the

  vention, the products require for their lateral ejection a reduced stressing force, these being already slightly cantilevered due to the offset

  in height of the two strands of the conveyor.

  In addition, in a device as described in application FR-A-2.612. 030, it is difficult to guarantee that the fruit is always ejected from the same side. In fact, the fruit is stressed essentially by the arm of the fork extending between the two strands of the conveyor. The arm external to the conveyor intended to direct the fruit towards the ejection side is only active insofar as the product has a sufficient diameter to come into contact with it. Under these conditions, the fruits of

  small diameter may be ejected randomly

  roof on either side of the conveyor.

  In the device described here, the product is induced by itself to tilt beyond the strand 12A disposed

  the lowest, the latter being disposed on the ejection side.

  Also, such an arrangement guarantees that all products

  tilt on the same side of the conveyor.

  In the embodiment of Figure 2,

  the absence of mechanical contact between the ejection means

  tion and the product avoids any risk of deterioration thereof. In the examples described here, the strand 12B of the conveyor rises upstream of the ejection section 18

along ramp 20.

  In an alternative embodiment not shown, the strand 12B runs at a constant height between the two end wheels and the strand 12A is deflected towards the

  down along a ramp upstream of the ejection section.

  Thus, as in the embodiment described here, the strand 12A is at a level lower than that of the strand 12B on the ejection section thus providing the

advantages outlined above.

Claims (11)

  1.- Device for handling products (P) such as fruit, of the type comprising on the one hand a   conveyor (10) with two strands (12A, 12B) circulating sensi-   in parallel to one another and on which the products rest (P) and on the other hand means (22) for ejecting the products (P) arranged along the conveyor (10) on a section (18) product ejection (P),   which means (22) are adapted to eject lateral-   the products (P) of the conveyor (10) by tilting beyond one of the strands (12A) of the conveyor, characterized in that, on said section (18) for ejecting the products (P), the two strands (12A, 12B) of the conveyor (10) are   arranged at different levels from the hori- zontal.   2.- Device according to claim 1, character-   laughed in that the lowest strand (12A) is provided from the   side of the side discharge of the products.   3.- Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the height (h) of the level difference between the two strands (12A, 12B) is between substantially 0.1 and 1 times the distance (d) separating   the two parallel strands (12A, 12B) measured horizontally- is lying.   4.- Device according to claim 3, character-   laughed at in that the height (h) of the level difference   between the two strands (12A, 12B) is between sensi-   0.1 and 0.5 times the distance (d) between the two   parallel strands (12A, 12B) measured horizontally.   5.- Device according to any one of the res-   dications preceding, characterized in that the ejection means comprise an actuating member (26, 40,   ) requesting the product (P) in a direction (X-   X) extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the two parallel strands (12A, 12B) in the ejection section (18).   6.- Device according to claim 5, character-   risé in that the solicitation of the products takes place between the two strands (12A, 12B) of the conveyor and in that the direction (X-X) of solicitation of the products defines   with the horizontal an angle (a) between sensitive-   ment 40 and 80, notably substantially equal to 60.   7.- Device according to claim 5, character-   risé in that the solicitation of the products takes place outside the interval delimited by the two strands (12A, 12B) of the conveyor, and in that the direction (YY) of solicitation of the products defines with the horizontal an angle (P) of between substantially 10 and 50,   notably substantially equal to 25.   8.- Device according to any one of the res-   dications 5 to 7, characterized in that said ac-   tction of the fruit comprises a nozzle (26) for projecting a fluid under pressure onto the product according to the request direction (X-X).   9.- Device according to claim 8, character-   laughed in that said fluid is air.   10.- Device according to any one of the res-   dications 5 to 7, characterized in that the action organ- ment comprises a jack (40).   11.- Device according to any one of the res-   dications 5 to 7, characterized in that the action organ- is an electromagnet (60).